To commemorate slavery uprisings from 1823 to 1838, the year when slavery was finally abolished in Guyana, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport yesterday opened bids for the development of the site where a monument will be erected.
The bids were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Main and Urquhart streets, Georgetown.
“Directly opposite Camp Ayanganna on Carifesta Avenue is a piece of land to be developed which will house a monument called the 1838 Monument. It will commemorate the uprising of the slaves, especially those of Plantation Success, who were at the forefront of the abolition of slavery movement in Guyana,” a representative from the Culture Ministry told Stabroek News yesterday.
Three companies submitted bids for the development of the site, which had an engineer’s estimate pegged at $28,317,707. Courtney Benn Construction’s bid was $30,257,687; Nabi Construc-tion, $26,252,481 and BK International $56,148,906.
In addition to the opening of those bids the Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA) also procured services for both construction and supervision of the construction of a guesthouse and a warden’s quarters in the Kaieteur National Park in Region 8.
Funding is being provided by the German government, while the procuring entity is the EPA. Two companies submitted bids for the supervision consultancy service; Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services’ bid $2,070,000 and E &A Consultants bid $8,825,000.
The construction of Tukeit Guest House and warden/ caretaker’s building had four bidders: Yusuf General Con-tracting with $27,816,646; Alvin Chowramootoo Construction Services, $36,287,807; Joseph Alleyne Construction, $28,284,085 and Akbar Construction Services $31,892,503. The engineer’s estimate for this project was given at $29,269,903.
Germany’s Honorary Consul Ben Ter Welle told Stabroek News after the opening that his country would like to once again see a guest house at the country’s most popular nature attraction. “Fifty years ago there was a guest house people would travel and overnight there. We want to bring back the same,” he said.
He added that some years ago the contract to build the guesthouse was first tendered but because of problematic works given by the contractor it was cancelled. As such this is now the second time companies have submitted bids to build the six-room guesthouse which will also include an area where persons can sling their hammocks and relax.
Meanwhile, bids were also opened for the construction of a dormitory for students of the Port Kaituma Secondary, equipment to continue the electrification exercise at Barabina in Region1 and for the supply of and delivery of anti-malaria supplies respectively.
International Pharmaceu-tical Agency bid $14,729,106, Meditron Scientific Sales $40,801,120 and the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company $39,915 140 for the anti-malaria drugs contract.
Troy Dainty Construction $14,771,750 bid for the contract to construct the dormitory at Port Kaituma and Tells Engineering Services bid $14,248,050 to supply the equipment for the electrification at Barabina.
